New Delhi: Students protesting at Patiala’s Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) over Vice-Chancellor (V-C) Jai Shankar Singh’s surprise inspection of girls’ hostel rooms last month have raised concerns about a report prepared by the committee tasked with “mediating the dispute on campus”.
The report, which is to be submitted to ex-officio chancellor and Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Sheel Nagu, was prepared by the original two members of the committee—who were selected by V-C Singh—without consulting the three new members brought on board on students’ recommendations, they claim.
For the past two weeks, RGNUL has been a students versus administration battleground. The protesting students have been demanding the V-C’s ouster, accusing him of “inappropriate and sexist behaviour” after the girls’ hostel rooms’ inspection without prior notice or consent. They further claim that this incident was the “tipping point” following a series of inappropriate actions in the past.
The university was temporarily closed when the protests began. Online classes are being organised, but students are refusing to attend, sticking to their demand for the V-C’s resignation.
Students told ThePrint they were informally told about the report, and are being pressured to resume classes.
“The student representatives were informed that they had drafted a report, which would be submitted to the chancellor today and that the students are to resume classes immediately. The report was prepared by only the on-site members (2 of 5) without any consultation with the rest of the members,” the students told ThePrint.
ThePrint reached V-C Singh for comment via calls. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
Also Read: Students of Patiala’s RGNUL demand V-C’s ouster over inspection of girls’ hostel, ‘sexist behaviour’
Ex-officio chancellor’s virtual address to students
In response to concerns raised by protesting students, the chancellor addressed them for the first time via videoconferencing Wednesday.
During the session, he acknowledged the students’ grievances and invited them to suggest members for the committee tasked to “mediate the dispute on campus”.
As a result, three new members were added to the committee based on the students’ recommendations: Prof. (Dr.) Faizan Mustafa, V-C of Chanakya National Law University, Patna; Gautam Bhatia, Constitutional law scholar and advocate; and Dr. Anindita Pujari, senior advocate at the Supreme Court.
ThePrint reached one of the new committee members, Gautam Bhatia, who said he can’t comment on the matter at this point.
The committee previously included Prof. (Dr.) Archana Mishra, V-C of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat; and Giribala Singh, president of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Bhopal. However, students raised concerns about a potential “appearance of bias” as these members, they said, had been selected by V-C Singh himself.
Meanwhile, the students have also raised objections to the internal “special committee report” formed by the university on the first day of the students’ protest. This special committee report was submitted by the officiating registrar Prof. (Dr.) Naresh Kumar Vats to Punjab’s secretary of education secretary K.K.Yadav.
The report, a copy of which has been accessed by ThePrint, claims that V-C Singh inspected girls’ hostel mess and rooms in response to complaints from students.
“On 22nd September 2024, an inspection of the girls’ hostel mess was undertaken by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jai S. Singh, alongside the female Chief Warden, Dr. Shruti Goyal, based upon complaints received from the students. After checking the mess area and the food, the Vice Chancellor was approached by a few first-year and they made a complaint regarding the furniture of their respective rooms. The Vice Chancellor, upon their request,visited the rooms of the girls’ hostel. He was accompanied by the female Chief Warden and female security guards,” the report reads.
The report also claims that V-C Singh has issued an “unconditional apology” to all the students.
However, raising objections to the report, the students said that it “omits” a crucial detail from the special committee’s findings—that V-C Singh entered the rooms of third-year women students, despite receiving no grievances from them, and proceeded to inspect their rooms. The protesting students further said that the hostel visited by the V-C houses only third-year students, not first-years.
The special committee—a nine-member panel comprising staff, professors, and administrators—was constituted by V-C Singh. However, three members have already resigned from the committee.
The students have said their protest will continue until their primary demand is fulfilled—either the resignation of V-C Singh or the formation of an external, independent inquiry committee to investigate his actions, with him being placed on administrative leave during the process.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)